Slowly working my way through a new Valeo clutch and whatever bits seem worth doing while I'm in there....wanted to replace the bushings on the release fork shaft, but I'm having a damn hard time getting the fork off the shaft, which I need to do to replace the lower bushing. Tried using a big slip-joint pliers as a press, but no go. Thinking I might try to break it loose with a couple of pipe wrenches, one on the fork and one on the release arm (the bit the slave cylinder pushes), and hope it'll slide off once it's broken loose, but I'm wondering it there's any chance of deforming the fork..might be better to just keep the old bushing in place and hope it lasts.

Any tips or thoughts? Has anybody actually had a "lower clutch release arm bushing failure"?

 

I've read that don't pound out the pins but drill them out to remove the lever arm. The casting/housing will crack if too much force is applied to it.